A certified public accountant, Jackson also was entrusted to prepare returns for several of Scientology's top officers, including Hubbard's protégé, David Miscavige.

As years passed, the church tightened its institutional embrace. Jackson helped pressure the IRS during Scientology's long battle for tax exempt status. He also worked briefly as a church lawyer.

He showed his deep personal devotion by ascending to Scientology's highest spiritual level, "Operating Thetan VIII" or "OT-8." Those Scientologists are, in the words of the church, "more stable, powerful and responsible."